Manual Printing
Design and print a manual that’s as user-friendly as it is durable and eye-catching with our outstanding and cost-effective offset printing services.
Manuals are essential documents for any business or organisation, and it’s important to get them right. Whether you’re producing a user guide, an instructional booklet, an onboarding handbook, an educational primer, a technical specification, a training workbook, or a service manual, it’s crucial that the final product is on-message in terms of design, layout, practicality, and ease of use.
At QinPrinting, we believe your customers, clients, and staff deserve practical manuals whose quality and usability make their tasks easier, more efficient, and even enjoyable. With 25 years of success in the industry, an expert team, the latest in design and print technology, and a genuine commitment to customer service, we’re proud of our strong reputation across the industry as a trusted manual printer—just as you’re proud of your customers, dedicated staff, and team members.
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QinPrinting Rated Excellent
They produced an excellent product that was printed, shipped and arrived within the expected timescales.
Emails were responded to quickly by Susan.
The whole process was smooth and straightforward.
What a delight!
Whenever I have a creative idea, their team goes above and beyond to help bring it to life. I’ve printed four comic books with them, and each time, they’ve exceeded my expectations. If you’re considering a printer, take a chance on these friendly, reliable folks—they truly value your business. - Chad Townsend, Creator of The Black Phantom.
But working with Nelson was an absolute pleasure. He patiently addressed all my concerns, and my final printed book was just as I would hope it would be.
Common Printed Booklet Sizes
The size of your printed manual typically depends on your content, page count, layout, orientation, and materials. However, there are practical limitations in most real-world scenarios.
The standard A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm) is a practical choice, especially if you need to post your manuals.
Larger sizes—such as 210 mm × 320 mm—can be helpful if your manual includes complex or detailed diagrams.
Likewise, a compact A5 size (148 mm × 210 mm) may be ideal for pocket-sized manuals.
At QinPrinting, we’re happy to produce custom manuals in any size or format you prefer. Just keep in mind that extensive customisation can lead to higher costs and potentially longer turnaround times due to the extra pre-press work and setup involved. That said, for certain applications, the additional investment may be worthwhile.
Manual Printing Paper Options
Manuals can contain a broad range of content—from text to diagrams to full-colour or black-and-white photographs, or any combination of these elements. While most manuals include written content, the images, diagrams, and photographs are often the focus and a key means of communication.
If your manual includes a lot of photography, we recommend printing on gloss or matte art paper for the best results. Both finishes provide ideal surfaces for high-quality printing and will reproduce your photographs with accurate colour, contrast, and detail. Gloss paper is often best for manuals with full-colour layouts and minimal text, whereas manuals with more text may benefit from matte paper. Matte still delivers excellent colour or black-and-white photo reproduction, but keeps the text easier to read.
For manuals that rely heavily on line-drawn diagrams, it’s essential that the line work is sharp and clear. Diagrams may be printed in black on white or in colour. If it’s important that users can write on the manual pages, the paper’s absorbency becomes crucial. If the surface is too glossy, pen or pencil marks may not adhere well; if it’s too fibrous, the ink may bleed or feather.
At QinPrinting, we recommend white offset paper for most text- or diagram-based manuals. Offset paper—also known as uncoated wood-free paper (UWF)—has the lignin removed during the pulping process. The result is a natural-looking, absorbent white sheet with an excellent balance of strength, opacity, and brightness, making it ideal for text, diagrams, and writing. We measure paper thickness by weight. For manuals, the paper should be at least 100 gsm; however, 120 gsm or even 140 gsm is often preferred to prevent ink from showing through to the reverse side.
For the cover, we suggest gloss or matte coated art paper. If you are only printing on the outside cover, a single-sided coated paper is sufficient. If you wish to print on both the inside and outside covers, then double-sided coated paper is required. Coated papers are more durable than offset stock and help protect the interior while enhancing the impact of your cover design. We recommend 250 to 300 gsm gloss or matte coated art paper for manual covers.
You’ll need at least two paper specifications for your manual: one for the interior pages and one for the cover. While most manuals are not casebound, certain industries—such as automotive—may prefer a hardcover format. In those cases, you may also wish to include endpapers, which can match the interior stock or be a heavier, coloured, or textured paper depending on your preference.
Paper Options for Manuals
Sewn perfect binding—a type of paperback that can lie flat when open without cracking the spine—is a popular choice for high-quality manuals that need to be used “hands-free” and withstand repeated use. This binding style requires the spine to be at least 3 mm thick.
Other commonly used bindings for manuals include spiral binding and saddle stitching. We’ll outline these options below. Hardcover binding is also available and is often selected for a professional, high-end finish—frequently used for automotive, engineering, and other technical manuals.
Here’s a useful list of the most popular paper types:
Cover Paper
- 200 gsm gloss cover paper
- 250 gsm gloss cover paper
- 300 gsm gloss cover paper
- 350 gsm gloss cover paper
- 200 gsm matte cover paper
- 250 gsm matte cover paper
- 300 gsm matte cover paper
Interior Paper
- 80 gsm coated text paper
- 105 gsm coated text paper
- 128 gsm coated text paper
- 157 gsm coated text paper
- 200 gsm coated text paper
- 80 gsm uncoated text paper
- 100 gsm uncoated text paper
- 120 gsm uncoated text paper
Special Finish Options
Here are some popular surface finishes that can enhance both the appearance and durability of your manual.
Shiny and reflective, perfect for vibrant graphics and photos.
Glossy highlights on specific areas for a striking contrast.
Smooth and non-reflective for a simple yet professional design.
Similar to matte lamination, but the resulting surface has a delightful, almost velvet feel.
A glossy finish applied to specific areas for a bold and distinct look.
Metallic or pigmented foil for a shiny, eye-catching effect.
Raised designs for added texture and elegance.
A recessed design that creates a tactile impression on the cover, adding texture and sophistication.
Cut a shape out of the paper material
Thin metallic foil—usually gold, silver, or bronze—is applied to the trimmed edges of your book's pages.
Custom patterns and images are sprayed on the edges for a truly unique appearance.
Print your design on a special paper that reflects light in a rainbow-like pattern.
Bindings for Manuals
While manuals may vary widely in shape and size, the choice of binding is crucial. It needs to be attractive, practical, and durable. Below is a clear explanation of the most common, professional-looking manual binding options. All of these styles allow the manual to lie flat when open.
Sewn Perfect Bound
This is one of our most commonly used binding styles for manuals. The interior pages are gathered into groups known as “signatures”, which are then sewn together and fixed into a wrap-around cover made from heavier art paper or lightweight card stock. For manuals with a moderate page count, this is a practical and long-lasting option.
Saddle Stitch Binding
To saddle stitch your manual, we fold the printed interior sheets and insert them into a cover sheet, then staple them together along the folded edge. This method requires the total page count to be divisible by four. The maximum effective page count for saddle stitching is around 48 pages.
Wire-O & Spiral Binding
Spiral binding is another popular choice thanks to its functionality and flexibility. We punch or drill holes along one edge of the pages and thread a plastic coil through them, which is then crimped at both ends to prevent loosening. A spiral-bound manual can be laid completely flat and the pages turned 360°. We also offer page lamination for added resistance to UV light, fingerprints, and spills. This makes it an ideal solution for manuals used in workshops, laboratories, or outdoor environments.
No matter which binding option you choose, we understand that as a busy professional, you already have a lot on your plate. That’s why we make it simple to design your manual using one of our ready-made templates. And if you’d like to check paper quality first, feel free to request samples—we’re happy to send them to you by post at no extra cost.
Manual Design and Artwork Tips
It’s essential that both you and your designer—or design team—understand how to properly prepare your manual files for print. You’ll need to take into account bleed zones, safety margins, trim lines, and borders, and ensure that the resolution and colour settings are correct. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips to ensure your design files are “print-ready”.
Export your files as vector-based PDFs for best results. We recommend using professional design software such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign. These programs also allow you to convert your colour settings from RGB to CMYK, which is required for offset printing.
If you're unable to supply vector files—such as when exporting bitmap images from Photoshop—make sure your resolution is set to at least 300 dpi. Vectors are resolution-independent, but all raster images must be high resolution to avoid becoming blurry or pixelated when resized.
Add a 3 mm bleed zone around all pages. This bleed is an extended area beyond the edge of the final page size, allowing for minor movement during trimming. Once printed, this outer section is cut away to ensure your artwork extends right to the edge of the page without any white borders.
Within the bleed, make sure to include trim lines (typically marked in green) to indicate the final size of the page. Keep all essential elements—like text, logos, and key visual details—at least 10 mm inside the trim line to avoid any risk of them being cut off.
If you’re working with a professional designer, they should be familiar with these requirements. But if you’re creating your design using software yourself—such as Adobe Illustrator or InDesign—these are the key guidelines to follow before submitting your files for print.
While it’s your responsibility to ensure your files are print-ready, don’t worry if it’s your first time. We’re happy to guide you through the process, explain what’s needed, liaise with your designer if needed, and manually check all your files to help ensure everything goes smoothly and you receive a high-quality printed manual.
Need Help Preparing Your Files? We Offer a Free File Checking Service
Can’t find what you want? Contact us!
Custom Manual Printing Costs
At QinPrinting, we work closely with each organisation to develop and print manuals, guides, and handbooks that not only present information clearly and intuitively, but also look professional—demonstrating your company’s commitment to employees, clients, and customers alike. Of course, we understand that most projects must stay within a set budget. That’s why we continually refine our processes and supply chains to ensure we deliver high-quality manuals at some of the most competitive prices in the industry.
So, how much does it cost to print a manual with us? You can get an instant estimate using our easy-to-read pricing charts. Unlike many traditional offset printers—which often require a minimum order of 1,000 units—we offer a low minimum order quantity of just 100 copies, all while maintaining affordable pricing. And as you’ll see from the charts, the more manuals you order in a single run, the lower the unit cost becomes.
How much does it cost to print a a5 manual?
Wire-O Binding Manual Printing Price Chart (148mm x 210mm)
| Quantity | 100 copies | 500 copies | 1000 copies | 2000 copies | 5000 copies | 10000 copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64pp + 4pp | Unit: A$5.8 Total: A$580 |
Unit: A$1.77 Total: A$886 |
Unit: A$1.23 Total: A$1231 |
Unit: A$1 Total: A$1991 |
Unit: A$0.91 Total: A$4526 |
Unit: A$0.85 Total: A$8547 |
| 80pp + 4pp | Unit: A$6.82 Total: A$682 |
Unit: A$2.07 Total: A$1036 |
Unit: A$1.44 Total: A$1441 |
Unit: A$1.15 Total: A$2294 |
Unit: A$1.03 Total: A$5161 |
Unit: A$0.96 Total: A$9638 |
| 120pp + 4pp | Unit: A$9.55 Total: A$955 |
Unit: A$2.87 Total: A$1435 |
Unit: A$1.95 Total: A$1952 |
Unit: A$1.52 Total: A$3046 |
Unit: A$1.35 Total: A$6768 |
Unit: A$1.25 Total: A$12502 |
| 256pp + 4pp | Unit: A$16.56 Total: A$1656 |
Unit: A$5.03 Total: A$2514 |
Unit: A$3.37 Total: A$3370 |
Unit: A$2.64 Total: A$5284 |
Unit: A$2.3 Total: A$11510 |
Unit: A$2.18 Total: A$21779 |
- Please note that all prices are EXW from our facility and do not include shipping costs.
- Cover: 250 gsm coated cover paper with matte lamination
- Interior: 105 gsm coated text paper
- Cover and inner: Full colour printing
How much does it cost to print a a4 manual?
Saddle Stitch Manual Printing Price Chart (210mm x 297mm)
| Quantity | 100 copies | 500 copies | 1000 copies | 2000 copies | 5000 copies | 10000 copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16pp + 4pp | Unit: A$3.64 Total: A$364 |
Unit: A$1 Total: A$502 |
Unit: A$0.62 Total: A$622 |
Unit: A$0.47 Total: A$930 |
Unit: A$0.39 Total: A$1927 |
Unit: A$0.35 Total: A$3535 |
| 24pp + 4pp | Unit: A$4.69 Total: A$469 |
Unit: A$1.3 Total: A$649 |
Unit: A$0.83 Total: A$833 |
Unit: A$0.61 Total: A$1228 |
Unit: A$0.51 Total: A$2545 |
Unit: A$0.46 Total: A$4589 |
| 32pp + 4pp | Unit: A$5.02 Total: A$502 |
Unit: A$1.43 Total: A$713 |
Unit: A$0.91 Total: A$913 |
Unit: A$0.69 Total: A$1381 |
Unit: A$0.59 Total: A$2925 |
Unit: A$0.54 Total: A$5388 |
- Please note that all prices are EXW from our facility and do not include shipping costs.
- Cover: 200 gsm coated cover paper with matte lamination
- Interior: 128 gsm coated text paper
- Cover and inner: Full colour printing
For a more accurate quote, use our handy online Printing Cost Calculator. Simply head to the form, enter your specifications, and receive an instant quote! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch, and one of our friendly printing team members—not a robot or a disengaged call centre operator!—will be more than happy to assist. We pride ourselves on offering personalised service and tailored solutions for all the businesses and organisations we work with.
Let's Talk!
If you’re responsible for your company’s manual design and printing—and you’re looking to produce a high-quality, professional manual at an unbeatable price—let’s have a conversation. Get in touch today via phone, email, Skype, or our simple contact form to discuss your needs or request a no-obligation quote. We look forward to helping you create a manual that’s not only practical but also one of the most impressive you’ve ever had.
